The Spectrum of Inflammatory Skin Disease Following Jejuno-Ileal Bypass for Morbid Obesity

In a 42-year-old study of 105 patients who had jejuno-ileal bypass surgery for morbid obesity, 7 (approximately 7%) developed inflammatory skin lesions, which were sometimes accompanied by joint pain, tenosynovitis, muscle pain, and fever. These lesions were characterized by erythema with central vesicles or pustules, and neutrophil accumulation was a common feature. Circulating immune complexes were found in patients with active and remitted lesions, as well as in those without lesions. Dapsone was effective in treating these symptoms when other antibiotics failed. The study suggested that these complications were episodic and mostly self-limiting, with no definitive evidence for the role of circulating immune complexes. The document also explored the potential factors contributing to the development of these complications and noted that while the exact cause was unclear, certain treatments were beneficial.